US1778026A - Connection system for train-lighting plants connected in parallel - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 14, 1930. v H. GROB 1,778,026

CONNEGTICN SYSTEM FOR TRAIN LIGHTING PLANTS.CONNEGTED IN PARALLEL Filed April 20. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I IT I I H. GROB Oct. 14, 1930.

CONNECTION SYSTEM FOR TRAIN LIGHTING PLANTS CONNECTED IN PARALLEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fild April 20. 1927 JJ ,wfl. W Q it: lw/lo M 2 H W x h w M "Z M M? ,U .M .L MP 0 QM R Mgy.

Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED" STATES PATENT osrica HUGO anon, or BERLIN, GERMANY GpNNECTI ON SYSTEM; FOR TRAZ IZN-EiIGHTING PLANTS CONNECTED IN PARALLEL Application filed April 20, 1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to train lighting systems. In such systems it is desirable that the individual generating and lighting equipments of the several cars of a train be capable 5 of being connected in parallel, in order that,

in case of failure of the generating equipment or other mechanism onone car, the car thus affected may be supplied with current from other cars of the train.

In certain types of car lighting equipment, an automatic voltage regulator is employed to maintain the voltage across the lamps substantially constant and at a predetermined value for efiicient operation of the lamps. These voltage regulators ordinarily included a variable resistance device which is inserted Y inthe lamp circuit and suitably controlled by a voltage coil or coils so that it continually absorbs such energy that a constant voltage is maintained across the lamps. Generall speaking it isnot feasible to connect in para lel generating systems whichare regulated to a constant voltager Evenslight diflerences in the voltage between the generating equipment of two separate cars is apt to cause an unequal distribution of the load, and possibly'an overloading of one or the other of the generators. It is. however, feasible to connect in parallel'the batteries of the several cars of the train 30 by means of a common connection wire or' connecting mains passingthrough the train, the batteries being connected in parallel across such mains. It is practicable to thus connectthe batteries since the batteries are not ordinarily regulated to constant voltage. In many car lighting systems, the variable resistance placed in the circuit of the lamps or lighting network, to control the voltage across the lamps, consists of a carbon pile which is subjected to a varying pressure in! order to vary itsresistance. The resistance. of sucha device, however, cannot be reduced to zero. Forthis reason it is desirable that the resistance device in the lamp circuit, be short-circuited, when the train is stationary or running at low speed and the lamps are consequently being fed by the storage battery. Such short-circuiting of this resistance makes to it possible to employ the full voltage of the 185,221, and in Germany April 24, 1926;

battery which, at any rate, is generally somewhat low. i

If, however, the batteries of the individual cars are connected in parallel, a difliculty is encountered if the lamp circuit resistance is 55 short-circuited when the generator of the car is idle. If the generator of a car is for any reason rendered inoperative or defective, the lamps of that car remain directly connected to the battery while the train is running, as Well as while it is standing still. The battery is connected in parallel with the other batteries of the train, and these latter, during movement of the train, attain the charging voltage of their individual generators: This charging voltage is higher than the lighting voltage and, being thus impressed directly across the lamp circuit of the car having the defective equipment, the lamp circuit resistance of this car having been shortcircnited, the excessive voltage would in a short time burn out the lamps.

Accordingly, it was hitherto necessary to allow the resistance to remain in the lamp circuit continually, if the car batteries were to be connected in parallel, and consequently the full battery voltage could not be utilized across the lamps when the train was stationary. I

It is an object of the present invention to 39 provide a system in which, when the batteries of the iiidividual cars are not connected in parallel, the resistance in the lighting circuit is rendered ineffective when the train stops or the generator ceases to function, and in which, when parallel connection of batteries of the individual cars is employed, the voltage regulation'of the lamps in each car is retained. Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in. which, v

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically one possible embodiment of certain features of the invention, and I Figure 2 shows diagrammatically another embodiment having features not included in the embodiment of Figure 1.

% I awaoae Similar reference characters refer tosimi- Thus, when the battervB is connected lar parts in both views of the drawings. across the'mains F by the switch G, the lamps Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, C are protected against any increases in v tthere is shown at A the commutator of a genage which may be impressed across the mains 5 erator which is driven atvarying speed, for F. On the'other hand, if the switch G is open 70 example, from an axle of the railroad car. so that the battery is not connected across the Adapted to be charged by the generator is mains F, the resistance D is short-circuited a storage battery B, and C represents the whenever the generator is inoperative or genlamps or lighting network of the car. A crating a voltage too low to close the auto- 30 voltage regulator is provided for maintainmatic switch KJ. I ing substantially constant the voltage'across When the -f ain now starts up and the the lainps G, and includesavariable resistance generaton voltage builds up, the magnet E s D connected in the'lamp circuit and taking attracts the armature and the automatic the form of a carbon pile. This regulating switch KJ swings to the left, the lever K apparatus is not shown in detail since it may engaging a contact K and the lever J entake any of various well-known forms. The gaging a contact J The generator is now regulating coil (not shown) is connected connected to,charge the storage battery and across the lamp circuit and acts upon suitto supplycurrent to the lamps through the ablemechanism to vary the compression of regulating resistance D. In this state of 20 the carbon pile D so as to control the resist: operation, the short-circuiting wire A -A .ance thereof in a manner to maintain the voltis rendered ineffective regardless of the posiage across the lamps substantially constanttionof the switch G, the connection beautomatic switch K-J is provided for tween the automatic switch lever K and the controlling the connection of the generator contact K being broken when the switch g5 with the circuit of the storage battery and K J is attracted by the magnet E i i ture,

lamps. lhe switch is operated by an electro: The current coil M of the magnet E is m gn t E Which iS PIiOVided W h a VOIlBage adapted to cause the automatic switch to coil R connected across the generator termiopen, or move to the right, immediately Hale, and also h a r coil M- This upon a return current flowing from the bat- 30 automatic i h i adapted 1 Connect e tery to the generator and resulting from a battery B and the lampsO with the generator decrease in generator voltage below the batp the generator voltage i ing p t a tery voltage. When the switch G is thrown pr d t rm d V n is adapted to open to the right, so as to connect the battery B tobreak this connection when the generator with the parallel connection mains F, there ac voltage drops below thispredete d lu is a possibility, particularly if the individual Th m n F P 1i e Connection line generators of the difierent cars are of dif- -which passes rough the t ai from o car ferent construction, that the voltages will to another for connecting the batteries of in t b id nti al, and that a return current dividual cars in parallel. The switch'G is ill fl f th m i s F back to the gen,-

40 ap for connecting the equipment ShOWIl erator -A and cause the generator to be dis herein With the connection malils, connected by the agency of the coil M, when When the train is stationary, or when the th generator -i operating normally, and generator inoperative r i g ev y such disconnection is not desired. slowly, the magnet E has released its arma- Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown 11d thfitwo S K and J are n inserted in the lead G from the switch lever a position inclined toward the right, the lever 0 t th b tt i it, a resistance N, I K h'' r" Contact i 2 E J 6 the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the cong g lg a Contact. I11 thlS POSltlOIl 0f the tact L of the switch G is connected by a wire automati switch, the generator is CllSCOIl- A3 with the parallel connection mains F,

"50 nected- I the levers Land 0 0f the Switch) When the automatic switch K--J is closed or G are inclined to the ,lefiq, the lever L engag moved to the left and the generator A is geningfifl Contact L1 and the le g gl crating a suitable charging voltage, and

contact 01, the battery B 18 connected dll'QCt- ,when the switch G is inclined to the right to ly with the lamps C, the resistance D'belng connect the battery B with the mainsF,'the

65 ShOIlFCiICUited y Way Of the W and A2 resistance N is effective to cut down an curand the switch lever L; If, on the th r h rentflow back toward the generator. through the Switch G is inclined toward llg $0 the lead G from the mains F When the a that the battery B is connected to the'mains generator A slows down or becomes inoper- 4 F, the lever O engaging a contact 0 and the ative, so as to permit the switch K-J to move to lever L engaging a contact L", the ShOIi QlI- to the right and the lever K to come into en-- 12 cuiting means isrendered inefl'ective and the gagement with the contact K the switch resistance remains efi'ective to regulate the lever L being in engagement with the conlamp vpltageduring the period that the train tact L", the resistance N is rendered inefis atrest or the generator A is' otherwise in-' fective against current tending to flow from as operative. the mains F, by being short-circuited through 230 the leads A and A. Thus, the resistance N counteracts .the possibility of the automatic switch being open while the gain erator A is properly functioning, but immediately upon the generator voltage dropping and the automatic switch opening, the re sistance N is rendered ineffective and does not interfere with a supply of current to the lamps C from the mains F.

In Figure 2 there is shown the voltage regulator for the generator A which is adapted to maintain the voltage of the generator substantially constant throughout varying speeds. This regulator comprises in sub- ;a stance a variable resistance device S which is positioned in the circuit of the generator field winding and is I controlled by a magnet P. The magnet P is provided with a voltage coil Y connected ,across the generator and also with a current coil Q, which is inserted in the lead, from the generator to the battery. The coil Q, supplied with current by the output of the generator, assists the' action of the voltage coil Y and is adapted to aid in reducing the generator voltage as current v flows therethrough from the generator toward the battery. Also, when current tends to flow through the coil Q in a direction toward the .generator, the coil Q opposes the voltage coil Y and tends to cause an increase in the-generator voltage to counteract such current flow. l

In addition to the above, there is shown in Figure 2 amechanism which decreases the sensitiveness of the magnet E of the automatic switch upon a tendency of current to flow back from the mains F toward the generator A. The automatic switch is provided with two additional switch levers T and U connected, for example, by a link E to swing with the switch levers K and J. The voltage coil R of the automatic switch is connected through a resistance V to a contact T and through a second resistance WV to a contact U When the generator voltage drops and theautomatic switch swings to the right, the

7 switch lever T engages the'contact T and the voltage coil R is connected through the .lead T across the generator, and is responsive to thevoltage of the generator; When the generator is operating normally and the automatic switch is closed, being moved to the left, the switch lever U engages the contact U and the coilR is connected by the lead U to'the lead G The connection with the lead G is between the resistance N and the main F, and hence the coil R is now directly responsive to the voltage across the mains F. The resistance W effects a weakening of the effect of the coil R upon the mag: I net E which is necessary to permit release of the armature of the magnet E when the voltage of the generator A drops again.

Thus,,the voltage coil R of the automatic switch is made responsive to generator voltthe direct connection of the coil R across the mains F, while the generator is operating normally, the greater the increase in voltage across the line the greater becomes the. holding force exerted by the coil R and this thus counteracts the tendency of a return current flowing through the coil M to open the automatic switch and disconnect the generator. Therefore, during movement of the train and normal operation of the generator A, the automatic switch is prevented from being opened by anexcess of voltage in the parallel connection mains F.

In view of the foregoing, it will be clear. how to practice my invention, but as conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features thereof, it might be at this point noted how the different conditions of practical use are met with in the operation of the system. Considering first the switch G as swung over toward the left so that the train line F is disconnected from the system in the car and considering the generator A to be at rest or operating below the critical voltage, the switch arms U, T, K and J will be in a position toward the right and hence the storage battery B alone can supply energy to the lamps C, the lamp regulator D ,being shortcircuited by the switch arms J and L. Thus there will. be no loss of battery voltage through the regulating resistance D. The voltage coil R on the main switch will be connected through the switch arm T and contact T directly across the generator by through the resistance V and assuming now that the generator, due to an increase in speed of the vehicle, for example. achieves a'voltage sufficient to cause the coil B when thus connected to operate the switch levers, the switch arms U, T, K and J are swung over the left; it will be understood, of course, that the voltage at which the coil R thus actuates these parts is greater than the battery voltage B since it is necessary for the generator A to commence charging of the storage battery. In this position the switch arm T disconnects the voltage coil Rfrom its above-mentioned circuit and by way of the switch arm U the coil R is now connected from one side of the generator, thence through the coil R through resistances V and W and by way of switch arm U and conductor U to the point X, and thence through resistance N to the other side of the generator. There being at this time no substantial current flow through the resistance N, the efiect of the latter is negligible. The coil R is thus substantially weakened but the subsequent How of current from the generator to the battery and/or the lamps through the'coilM assists the coil R in holding the switch arms in their position inclined toward r .the left. v The charging of the battery or the supplies current to the battery B and it acts to aid the regulating coil Y and prevents the charging current to the battery from being too .high. Should the generator slow down sufficiently or stop the battery B will tend to discharge through the generator and hence through the coilM, the effect of which coil is thus reversed; the switch arms U, T, K and J are thus released and moved to the right, it" being noted that a much smaller reverse current through the coil M is necessary to effect this disconnection of the generator, due to the weakened cdndition of the coil R.

Assuming, however, that the generator continues in, operation at a speed suflicient to charge the battery B and supply current to the lamps C, as above noted, and assuming .that the switch G is moved to the right so that the system of the vehicle is connected to the train line B, the system isfully protected from undesirable interference therewith by other systems or generators of other vehicles that may be connected to the train line F. Assuming, for example, that another generator connected to the train line F has a higher voltage than the generator A so that this other generator tends to force current into the s stem, it is first to be noted that the train line has to afi'ect the system through the switch arm 0, the conductor G and through the resistance N; in so doing, however, the current flow from the train line has in efl'ect to maintain raising the potential of the point X if any current is to be forced into the battery B, and in raising the potential of the point X the strength of the coil Ris increased. Should the potential of the current thus forced into the battery from the train line be sufii'cient to tend to force a current through the switch arm K and thence through the coils Q and M into the generator A, the resultant current through the coil Q flows in reversed direction and its effect on'the coil Y of the regulator is also reversed. The regulator is thus caused to increase the voltage of the generator A and thus promptly counteract the tendency of the train line to force current into the generator. During thisaction the current flow through the coil M is also momentarily reversed but the coil R having been strengthened, due to the raising of the potential of the point X, the coil R thus holds the switch arms U, T. K and J in position to the left for this rec5 versal of current in the coil M is thus insufficient to cause the magnet E to release the system has to be exerted through the resist- 'ance N and that hence ,the voltage of the train line has to be considerably greater than that of the generator A, while on the other hand, should the voltage of the generator A be materially higher than that of the train line F,the generator A would have to supply the train line through the resistance N. In each instance the resistance N thus effects such anIR drop that undue interference of one generator or system upon another generator or system, connectedto the train line F is eliminated.

Should the generator A slow down sufiiciently or come to a stop, the switch arms including arms K and J move to the right but in so doing they are prevented from shortcircuiting the regulator resistance D, due to the fact that the arm L of the switch G is in contact with the switch contact L while the battery B will be connected directly ethrough switch arms K and L to the train line F so that it may supply current thereto. it being understood that if the stoppage of the generator A is due-to the stoppage of the train, the other generators, if any, connected to the train line F, will, of course, also be at rest. 4

Should the generator A, however, become inoperative due, for example, to burning out of its armature or due to the blowing of a fuse, the subsequent starting of the. train, finding the parts inthe posijions immediately above outlined, does not 'esult in movement of the switch arms U, T, K and J to the left because the-coil R remains unenergized due to the inoperativeness of the generator A. Other generators, however, that may be connected to the train line F can, nevertheless, supply charging current to the battery B through the switch arms L and K, both intheir right-hand position, it being noted that the resistance N is cutout of uch a charging circuit while at the same time the lamps C areeifectively safeguarded against 'the voltage of such other generator or generators or against the voltage of the battery B being thus charged because the resistance D is maintainedin the circuit of the lamps C, due to switch arms K, J and L being in righthand position.

As many possible I embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be. made in the embodimentsabove set'forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or show 11in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a train lighting system, in combination with a connection main passing through the train, a generator, a circuit adapted to be fed by said generator including a storage battery and lamps, an automatic switch adapted upon said generator attaining a predetermined output to connect said generator to supply said circuit and adapted upon the generator output falling below said predetermined value to break said connection, a regulator adapted to maintain, the voltage across the lamps substantially constant and including a variable resistance in the lamp circuit, means responsive to movement of said automatic switch to disconnect Saidgenerator adapted to short-circuit said'resistance, a switch for connecting said battery with the connection main, and means adapted when said last switch is closed to render ineiiective said short-circuiting means.

2. In a train lighting system, in combination with a connection main passing through the train, a generator, a circuit adapted to be fed by said generator including a storage battery and lamps, an automatic switch adapted upon said generator attaining a predetermined output to connect said generator to supply said circuit and adapted upon the generator output falling below said predetermined value to break said connection, a

regulator adapted to maintain the voltage across the lamps substantially constant and including a variable resistance in the lamp circuit, a lead for short-circuiting said resistance, said automatic switch including apair of contacts in said lead and adapted to close when said switch moves to disconnect said generator thereby to render said short-circuiting lead effective, and a switch for connecting said battery to said connection main, said last switch including a pair of contacts adapted to open when said battery is connected with saidmain and thereby break said shortcircuiting lead, said pair of contacts being adapted to close when said switch is moved to disconnect said battery from said main.

3. In a train lighting system, in combination with a connection main passing through the train, a generator, a circuit adapted to be fed by said generator including a storage battery and lamps, an automatic switch adapted upon said generator attaining a predetermined output to connect said generator to supply said circuit and adapted upon the generator output falling below said predetermined value to break said connection, a regulator adapted to maintain the voltage across the lamps substantially constant and including a variable resistance in the lamp circuit, means for short-circuiting said resistance when said automatic switch is open, a switch for connecting said battery with the connection main, a second resistance interposed between said last switch and said battery, and means adapted to render said second resistance ineffective when said automatic switch is open.

4. In a train lighting system, in combination with a connection main passing through the train, a generator, a circuit adapted to be fed by said generator including a storage battery and lamps, an 'automatic switch adapted upon said generator attaining a predetermined output to connect said generator to supplysaid circuit and adapted upon the 5. In a train lighting system, in combination with a connection main passing through the train, a generator, a circuit adapted to be fed by said generator including a storage battery and lamps, an automatic switch adapted upon said generator attaining a predetermined output to connect said generator to supply said circuit and adapted upon the generator output falling below said predetermined value to break said connection, a regulator adapted to maintain the voltage across the lamps substantially constant and including a variable resistance in the lamp circuit, means for short-circuiting said resistance when said automatic switch is open, a switch for connecting said'battery with the connection main, said automatic switch including a voltage coil tending to close the switch, and means adapted to connect said coil across the generator terminals when said automatic switch is open and adapted to connect saidcoil across said connection main when said automatic switch is closed.

6. In a train lighting system, in combination with a connection main passing through the train, a generator, a circuit adapted to be fed by said generator including a storage battery and lamps, an automatic switch adapted upon said generator attaining a predetermined output to connect said generator to supply said circuit and adapted upon the generator output falling below said predetermined value to break said connection, a regulator adapted to maintain the voltage across the lamps substantially constant and including a variable resistance in the lamp circuit, means for short-circuiting said resistance when said automatic switch is open, a switch for connecting said battery with the connection main, a resistance interposed between said connection main and said battery circuit, means adapted to render said last resistance ineffective when said automatic switch is open, said-automatic switch including a voltage coil tending to close the switch, and means adapted to connect saidcoi-l acrossthe generator terminals when said automatic switch is open and adapted to connect said coil across said connector mains when said automatic switch is closed.

7. In atrain lighting system, in combination, a train line, a generator, a circuit sup-l plied by said generator, a resistance, a control resistance interposed between said generator and said circuit, and switching mechanisni for connecting said generator to said train line through said first-mentioned resistance, switchingmechanism for connecting. said generator to said circuit; and means for cutting out said control resistance upon said generator being disconnected from said circuit and operative only when said firstmentioned switching mechanism is in circuitopening position.

8. In a train lighting system, in combination, a train line, a generator, a translation circuit, a, resistance interposed between said generator and said translation c1rcu1t, means adapted to connect said generator to said translation circuit and upon disconnection to substantially short-circuit said resistance, a resistance, and means for interposlng said last-mentioned resistance between said generator and saidtrain line and adapted upon operation to prevent short-circuiting of said first-mentioned resistance.

10. In a train lighting system, in combination, a train line, a generator, a translation circuit, an automatic switch for connecting and disconnecting said generator relative to said circuit and including a reverse current coil,.me,ans for connecting said train line to said generator but onthe side of said switch remote: from said-generator, and means for preventing reverse current in said coil due to current flow from said train line 'from disconnecting said generator.

1],. In a trainlighting system, in combina tion, a train line,'a generator, a translat on circuit, an automatic switch for connectlng .and disconnecting said generator relative to I said circuit and including a reverse current coil, means for connecting said train line to generator, means for re said generatorbuif on the side of said switch remote from said generator, and means causing an lncrease in generator voltage and responsive to reverse current flow through said coil from said train lineto said generator.

12. In a train lighting system, in combination, a train line, a generator, a circuit including a storage battery and lamps adapted to be supplied from said generator or from said train line, ,a resistance interposed between said lamps and said storage battery, and means for making said resistance ineffective when both said generator and said train line are substantially inefi'ective to supply said circuit and for making said resistance efiective when either said generator or said train line is efiective to supply said circuit.

13. In-a train lighting system, in combination, a'train line, a generator, a translation circuit connected to said train line and to said 'gulatingithe voltage of said generator, and means responsive to current flowing from said train line to said generator for causing said regulating means 'to increase the voltage of said generator.

14. In a train lighting system, in combine},- tion, a train line, a generator, a translation circuit connected to be supplied by both said train line and said generator, a resistance interposed between said train line and said generator so that current interchange -therebe tween takes place through said resistance, means for regulating the output of said generator, and means responsive to current flow in a direction from said train line toward said generator for causing said regulating means to increase the output of said generator.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

HUGO GROB.

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